Trent Hohenstreiter knew he couldn’t give up the sport he loved after walking across the stage in a cap and gown at Seymour High School.
He needed to continue running at the collegiate level after graduation.
After weighing his options, and making some campus visits, the SHS senior found the right fit for his academic and athletic pursuits.
On Wednesday, Hohenstreiter signed to the University of Indianapolis’ cross-country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
Hohenstreiter said that there was only a brief time when he considered not running in college.
“I really wanted to run in college my freshman and sophomore years, but last year I thought I would just focus on school,” Hohenstreiter said. “I started running some decent times during cross-country my senior year, so I filled out some questionnaires online. UIndy got back with me, and I had heard about them from my cousin, who ran there. I took an official visit and it felt like the place I wanted to be.”
Not including last night’s results at the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional, Hohenstreiter was a part of two sectional-winning teams and a regional qualifier in the 800, and on a relay. He mostly ran the 800 and 1,600 individually this season.
In cross-country, he ran on a Hoosier Hills Conference Championship team and was a semistate qualifier four straight years. His fastest time was 17-minutes, 21-seconds.
Hohenstreiter credited Seymour boys cross-country and track coach Randy Fife, middle school cross-country coach and varsity track assistant Brad Cobb, and his family for helping him achieve his goals.
“Coach Fife has held me accountable in everything,” Hohenstreiter said. “Whether it was my academics, athletics, or just being a person. He always went out of his way to make sure I was doing the right thing. He was always there if I needed anything. He’s a very wise guy. He knows a lot about everything and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me. Coach Cobb has been there for me since middle school and my family has always supported me with my running.”
The Greyhounds compete in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference.
UIndy finished sixth of 12 teams at last year’s GLVC cross-country meet and 15th of 28 at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional.
On May 2, the Greyhounds finished second at the GLVC outdoor track championships. The Greyhounds are wrapping up their season in the coming weeks at multiple last chance meets before going to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 24-26.
“The coaches seemed a lot like coach Fife,” Hohenstreiter said. “I liked how the team was up there. It seemed like they were even closer than the high school team, which I didn’t think would be possible. They all go out to eat together, hang out on the weekends and work out together..”
Scott Fangman is the director of the track and field and cross-country programs and Brad Robinson is the head cross-country and distance coach at UIndy.
Hohenstreiter, one of nine senior scholars at SHS, plans to major in both math and chemistry at UIndy. He said he will soon receive a summer workout plan, and will start running with the Greyhounds
“I love running,” Hohenstreiter said. “I wasn’t ready to give it up yet. I look forward to keeping the team atmosphere. I enjoy it so much that I would still run even if there weren’t any races. The race is just a bonus. I will get to compete for my school again, and I think that will be cool.”